GREEN BAY – Packers receiver Jayden Reed isn't playing Sunday against Minnesota, and he doesn't know if he's playing on Thanksgiving in Detroit, but he took a big step on the road back Friday.
Reed returned to practice for the first time since breaking his collarbone in Week 2 vs. Washington. The fracture required surgery, which also afforded Reed the opportunity to get his foot injury from training camp surgically repaired as well.
Now, two months and 10 days since his last snap, Reed is starting to ramp up for whenever he's cleared for game action.
"It felt great just to go back out there with the guys and be able to fly around again," he said after Friday's practice, during which he said he ran some routes but didn't elaborate. "Everything feels great right now. I'm just following the protocol and just waiting for my number to be called.
"I don't know when I'll be back. Hopefully, it's soon."
He added his recovery has had its ups and downs, dealing with both injuries, but he's been running for a few weeks and feels he's in good shape, conditioning-wise.
The Packers' passing offense has been on its own uneven path, getting a boost from Christian Watson's return from a torn ACL a month ago, but then losing tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of this season to the same injury. Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Goldenalso have been in and out of the lineup with injuries.
Reed, a second-round draft pick in 2023 who led the team in receiving each of his first two years in the league, is fired up to rejoin a receiver room he feels is getting healthy at the right time.
"I think we got the full package, man," he said. "I can name everybody in the room that can contribute in so many different ways, so it's just great seeing those guys going out there and do what they do. I'm just excited to see it all come together for this run we gotta make."
His teammates are glad to see him back on the field, too.
"It's big, it's big," Watson said. "Obviously J-Reed's a big part of our offense. So the quicker he can hit the ground running and get out there with us, the better the team will be."
Back in September, Reed garnered a lot of attention on social media when he posted a humorous video of himself, right after his surgeries but still feeling the effects of anesthesia, babbling about the Packers going to the Super Bowl.
He admits he doesn't quite remember it all or what exactly he uttered, but he's standing by the sentiment as the Packers hit a division-heavy stretch of the schedule at 6-3-1.
"I meant what I said, though," he said. "I still got that mindset. Being serious, man, I really do believe in this team."
He's made that known when he's around his teammates, always bringing positive thoughts and encouragement while biding his time. That time is almost here.
"I'm definitely a piece that can help the team," he said. "I just hound myself on like bringing juice. So I always say if you juiceless, you useless, so like that's whether you're on the field, off the field, just bringing juice, bringing energy within the team. I'm just one of those guys."
